Measuring apparatus for bootmakers.



W. CHURCH.

KBASURIRQ APPARATUS FOR BOOTMAKERS.

APPLIGATIOK FILED AUG. 24, 1908.

Patented June 28, 1910.

2 SHEBTST-BHEET 1.

FIG. 1.-

W. CHURCH. MEASURING APPARATUS FOR BOOTMAKBRS. APPLIOATION FILED AUG.24, 1908 2 744 Patented June 28, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Wit E5525 EXZEELUYI UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM CHURCH, OF NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND.

MEASURING APPARATUS FOR BOOTMAKERS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM CHURCH, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Northampton, in the county of Northampton, in theKingdom of England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inMeasuring Apparatus for Bootmakers.

My present invention relates to size meas uring sticks for boot and shoedealers, and comprises a device whereby the length of a foot or last ismeasured directly in shoe sizes, and whereby tapes for measuring thegirth of the ball joint and of the instep are properly positioned forthe taking of these measurements, and so adjusted that the measurementtaken upon the tapes may be taken directly in sizes, due compensationbeing made for the variation of these sizes, with the various lengths ofshoe.

With these objects and others which will hereinafter appear, in view, myapparatus consists of the devices illustrated in the drawings, wherein-Figure l is a plan view of the entire ap paratus; and Fig. 2 is alongitudinal sectional view of the apparatus on the center line ofFig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the actuating lever showing the camslots; Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the instep sup porting memberremoved from the device; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the same;Fig. 6, is a perspective view ofone of the tape carrying slidingmembers; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a tape showing the means ofattaching it to the sliding member shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is aperspective view of the swiveling portion E of the ball joint support;Fig. 9 is a cross section on the line S--9 of Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is across section of the assembled device on the line 1011 of Fig. l and inthe direction of the arrows.

The usual measuring stick consists merely of a base bar having at oneend a fixed up right against which the heel of the foot is placed, andan upright member slidably mounted upon the base bar and adapted to bebrought against the toe of the foot, the length of the foot beingmeasured upon graduations marked on the base stick.

In my present invention the length of the shoe is determined bymeasuring the distance from the back of the heel to the ball joint ofthe foot, there being a definite relation between this distance and thesize of Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 24, 1908.

Patented June 28, 1910.

Serial No. 450,045.

shoe required. I provide also a means of measuring about the ball jointof the foot, so as to determine the width of shoe required, theapparatus being so arranged that the girth reading taken upon themeasuring tape provided for that purpose shall be directly in widthsizes.

In the system of sizes commonly used in America, the lasts varyone-third of an inch in length and one-fourth of an inch in girth at theball joint and instep. Thus in succeeding sizes the lengths haveconstant increments of one-third of an inch and the girths at the balljoint and instep have constant increments of one-fourth of an inch. A 5Dshoe and a 6D shoe do not have, how.- ever, the same girths at the balljoint and instep respectively, though designated by the same widthletter D, and this fact follows throughout the entire system ofmeasurement. It is therefore necessary if the girth measurements are tobe taken directly in sizes of width, that due compensation be made forthis fact, and I accomplish this purpose by a device to appropriatelydraw in or pay out the tapes as the length measurement varies.

A similar provision is made for the measurement at the instep as is madefor the measurement of the ball joint, and in fact might be made for anygirth measurement that might be required.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that theapparatus is carried upon a bar A which forms a base therefor. Fixed toone end of the bar A is an upright member B against which the heel isplaced. This bar B supports a small platform C adapted to support theheel at a suitable elevation, it being desirable to have the foot inapproximately the position it will assume when in a shoe. This platformC is therefore placed at such a height as to correspond with the averageheight of shoe heel.

The ball of the foot will be supported by a platform E further to bedescribed, and the instep will be supported by a platform D.

The bar A (see Fig. 10) is provided with a slot G which is furtherprovided with smaller lateral grooves 9 formed in its sides for purposeswhich will later become apparent, and with a second and parallel pair ofgrooves 5 also formed in its sides. The grooves 5, as indicated in thedrawings are formed at the bottom of the slot G, while I F. Swiveledupon the plate F is a second the grooves y are at a slightly higherposition. (mided in the slot G so as to move longitudinally of the bar Aare four sliding members which will now be taken up in order.

The first of the sliding members J (see Figs. at and consists of a blockhaving lateral projections 50 entering the grooves 5. These projectionsthus serve to retain the member J in the slot G, preventing itsdisplacement therefrom, and constraining it to rectilinear motion in thegroove. It carries on its upper face a spindle or neck having a reducedcross section and adapted to engage a cam slot later to be described.Attached to and forming an extension of the spindle is is an upwardlyprojecting portion terminating in the platform or support D, whichserves as an instep support, its elevation being such as to adapt it tothat purpose. The block J is further hollowed out for the passage of atape, and contains guiding members consisting of the pins to so disposedas to give a tape a quarter turn and allow it to pass upwardly smoothlythrough an aperture or slot Z in the neck 71: and a second slot 2 in thesupport D directly above.

Forward from the member J is a second sliding member U also guided inthe slot G. This member U is provided with projections G engaging thelateral grooves g and lateral projections an engaging the grooves 5,both adapted to retain said sliding member U within the slot. Theprojections G might extend beyond the member U, as shown in thedrawings, for the purpose of getting a longer bearing and securingsmoother motion of the member U. Since these projections would liewholly within the grooves 9 they would not inter fere or collide withthe sliding member J. The sliding member U carries on its upper face alug or projection to adapted to engage a cam slot which will later bedescribed. Passing horizontally through the member U is a pin y to whichis attached at approximately its middle a tape Y, the tape beingattached to the pin by means of a metallic clip Y (see Fig. 7) or anyother suitable manner. The ends of this tape are passed rearwardlythrough the guides already described, in the member J, and upwardlythrough the slot Z to the upper surface of the platform D, from whichthe ends of the tape Y project. These tapes are graduated at intervalsappropriate to variations in instep girth for successive sizes.

I is a third sliding member guided in the slot G and retained therein bythe lateral projections m engaging the grooves Projecting from the upperportion of the sliding member I is a neck or spindle z adapted to engagea cam slot later to be described. Resting upon this neck or spindle is aplate plate E, the ball joint support, consisting of a central member Eapproximately circular in form, having beveled edges 6. This centralmember E is retained upon the plate F by segments I overlapping beveledportions of E. In this way the swiveling of the ball joint support Eupon the plate F is secured through a limited range. As will be seen byreference to the drawings, the ball oint support E comprises also twobars or projections extending in opposite directions from the centralportion E and provided with slots S running in the direction of theirlength, the purpose of which will be later described. It is seen,therefore, that we have a plat-form E adapted to support the ball jointof the foot guided longitudinally of the bar A by the slot G and adaptedat the same time to be swiveled about its central point so as to assumeany desirable angle with the slot G within a limited range. The heightof this ball joint support is determined relatively to the instepsupport D and heel support C, so as to retain the foot in its normalposition when in a shoe. The member I is, like the member J, hollowedout and is provided with guides w for a tape essentially identical withthe guides to above described, so disposed as to give a tape a quarterturn and direct it smoothly upward through a slot 3 extending throughthe spindle 2' and terminating in the upper surface of the centralportion E of the ball joint support E.

V is a fourth sliding member guided in the slot G and retained thereinby lateral projections G engaging the grooves y, and. by lateralprojections as engaging the grooves 5, the projections G extendingpreferably beyond the length of the member V so as to secure a longerhearing, as explained in the case of the sliding member U, with which itis practically identical. The member V carries a lug or projection '1)adapted to engage a cam slot later to be described. A pin 'y passeshorizontally through the member V and to this is attached atapproximately its middle, a tape 2, the ends of which are then passedrearwardly around the guides described in the member I and upwardlythrough the slot 3 so as to project from the upper surface of the balljoint support E at its center. The mode of attaching the tape 2 to thepin a/ is the same as the method of attaching tape Y to itscorresponding pin y. This tape 2 is graduateiil in divisionscorresponding to the variations of girth of the ball joint with thesuccessive width sizes. At this point I desire particularly to point outthat these tapes might be graduated in accordance with any system ofmeasurement, and that by describing the one in common use in America, Ido not intend to restrict myself to that system, but

use it merely as an illustration of the applicability of my device. Itis furthermore not essential that the members U and V be placed forwardof the members J and I respectively, as they might be placed on eitherside according to the preference of the person constructing the deviceand the limitations of space imposed.

Having now described the instep support D and the ball joint support Eit now becomes necessary to set forth the means provided for moving themsimultaneously to appropriate posltions to support the instep and balljoint.

Pivoted at L to the bar A is an arm K which may be formed of sheetmetal. This arm is provided with four cam slots, shown best in Fig. 3,and lettered P, W, Q, and X. The slot P engages the spindle or neck ofthe sliding member J and the cam slot Q, engages the neck or spindle 2'of the sliding member I. These slots are so designed with respect toeach other that when the ball joint support E comes beneath the balljoint of the foot, the instep support D will come beneath the instep ofthe foot, there being a fixed relation between the positions of theinstep and the ball joint in a normal foot which is well recognized. Itis thus obvious that the swinging of the arm K from side to side willcause the supports D and E to move longitudinally of the bar A so as tosimultaneously assume their proper positions. The bar A carries at itsforward end a graduated sector scale 0 and the arm K which is moved bythe handle M carries a pointer N swinging over this sector scale. Thescale is divided so that the pointer shall indicate thereon the size ofshoe corresponding to the position of the ball joint support. This isthe means provided for indicating the length of shoe required from theposition of ithe ball joint support relatively to the hee The cam slotsXV and X engage the lugs or projections u and v on the sliding members Uand V, and are so formed that the member U moves with a definiterelation to the member J and the member V moves with a definite relationto the member I according to their individual purposes. The purpose ofthe relative movements of U with respect to J is to vary the amount oftape extending between them, and thereby to vary the portion of tapeprojecting from the slot Z. The relative movements of the two slidingmembers U and J is such that the paying out or drawing in of the tapesproduces the appropriate compensation for the variations of the instepgirth with the shoe length. Similarly the relative movement of thesliding members I and V is such that by varying the length of thatportion of the tape 2 which is stretched between them it will producethe proper paying out and drawing in of the tape 2 through the slot 3 tocompensate for the variation of ball joint girth measurement with lengthof shoe.

Now remains to be described the purpose of the slides S mentioned asformed in the lateral projections of the ball joint support E. Theseslots guide side guards intended to secure an accurate positioning ofthe ball joint upon the support E. These guards comprise a base plate 1"resting on the upper surface of E and having a downward projection ortongue T engaging the slots S and retained therein by a head or lateralprojection 2/, or any other suitable means. Projecting upwardly from thebase plate 1" are the members R which are to be pushed against the sideof the foot when it is posi tioned upon the member E. These projectionsR may be provided with elastic loops 4, under which the ends of the tape2 are passed so as to hold them outward from the slot 3, and to keepthem smooth and flat under the foot. These elastics 4 are not essential,however, to a satisfactory embodi ment of the apparatus.

Themethod of using the device is as follows :The customer places hisheel upon the platform C resting it at the same time against the upperprojection B. The tapes 2 and Y having been laid out to the sides, thearm K is moved to one side or the other by means of the handle M untilthe ball joint support E assumes its proper position beneath the balljoint of the foot, the member E being swiveled so as to assume theproper angle for either a right or left foot, and the guards B beingproperly adjusted, so as to secure an accurate positioning. The supportE being now beneath the ball joint the platform D will be beneath theinstep. The length of shoe will then be indicated upon the scale 0 bythe pointer N. For instance in Fig. 1, the size indicated is No. 8. Theball joint measurement would next be taken by drawing the tapes 2 aboutthe foot and reading the graduation on one end portion coincident with afxed or terminal point on the other end portion of the tape. Because ofthe compensating action of the sliding members already described, thiswill appear directly in sizes regardless of the length of shoe.Similarly the instep measurement will be made by drawing the tape Yabout the instep and reading the gradu ation on one end portion of thetape coincident with a fixed or terminal mark on the other end portionof the tape. It is obvious that a similar procedure will be followed outin measuring a last, to the measurement of which the apparatus isequally adapted.

It will thus be seen that in a very simple and compact apparatus I havesecured means for measuring the length directly in sizes and formeasuring the ball joint and instep also directly in sizes, there beingno computation or allowance necessary to secure harmony between themeasurement of length and the other measurements. It is obvious that thesame compensating device might be applied to other girth measurementsthan the ones pointed out, and that the mechanism by a suitabledesigning of the cams could be made to compensate for any relationbetween the width and length measurements.

The spirit of the invention would not be changed by substituting twotapes fastened at their ends to the sliding members U and V for the onetape fastened at its middle, as described herein.

It is particularly pointed out that the cam slots XV and X are formedsolely with respect to a proper compensation for the measuring systemadopted, and might therefore when used with a different measuring system assume radically different forms, and there is no intention toconfine the claims to the form shown or to a similar form. It might bethat the cam slots \V would have reverse curves or sudden changes ofcurvature or be otherwise varied to the needs of the system at hand.

No broad claims are here made to the mechanism for indicating the shoesize by means of the position of the ball joint support, claims to coverthis feature being incorporated in my co-pending application, Serial No.436,522.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. A foot or lastmeasuring apparatus, comprising in combination a base; a heel supportcarried thereon; an instep support slidably mounted on said base; a balljoint support slidably mounted on said base; an arm pivoted to the base;cams carried by said pivoted arm and adapted to move the instep supportand the ball joint support simultaneously; and a size indicating deviceindicating sizes corresponding to the positions of the ball jointsupport.

2. A foot or last measuring apparatus, comprising in combination a base;a heel support carried thereon; an instep support slidably mounted onsaid base; a ball joint supporting member slidably mounted on said base;a supporting plate pivotally mounted thereon; adjustable side guidesmounted upon the supporting plate; an independent sliding member mountedon the base; a tape attached to said independent member and passingthrough a slot in the instep support; a second independent slidingmember mounted on said base; a tape attached to said second independentsliding member and passing through a slot in the ball joint support; anarm pivoted to said base; cams carried on said arm and adapted to movethe instep support, the ball joint support and the two independentsliding members; and a size indicating device operatively connected tothe sliding supports.

3. A foot or last measuring apparatus, comprising in combination a base;a heel support carried thereon; an instep support slidably mounted onsaid base; a ball joint support slidably mounted on said base; anindependent sliding member mounted on the base; a measuring tapeattached to said independent sliding member and passing through a slotin the instep support; a second independent sliding member mounted onthe base; a measuring tape attached to said second independentslidingmember and passing through a slotin the ball joint support; an armpivoted to said base; cams carried on said arm and adapted to move theinstep support, the ball joint support and the two independent slidingmembers; and a size indicating device operatively connected to thesliding supports.

4. A measuring apparatus for lasts and feet, comprising a base; apositioning member for the heel mounted on the base; a sliding membermounted on said base; an arm pivoted to said base and operativelyconnected to said sliding member; a graduated scale fixed on said base;and a pointer fixed on the arm and swinging over said graduated scale.

5. A ball joint measuring device for foot and last measuring apparatus,comprising a slidably mounted carriage; a supporting plate pivotallymounted on said carriage; a tape guided by said supporting plate; and100 side guards slidably mounted on said supporting plate.

6. A measuring apparatus for lasts and feet, comprising in combination abase; a positioning member for the heel mounted 105 thereon; a supportfor the ball joint slidably mounted upon the base; an independentsliding member mounted upon the base; a measuring tape attached to saidindependent member and passing through a slot in the 110 ball jointsupport; an arm pivotally mounted on the base; cams carried on said armand adapted to move the ball joint supporting member, and theindependent sliding mem ber as the arm is swung about its pivot; and 115a size indicating mechanism operativelyconnected to said ball jointsupporting member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name this 13th day ofAugust 1908, in the presence of two subscribing wit- 120 nesses.

WILLIAM CHURCH.

\Vitnesses JOHN FRANKLAND MANSON, M. DIXON.

